What's on in County Armagh

County Armagh is both one of the six counties that make up modern Northern Ireland and also was one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland, located in the historical province of Ulster. A landscape of gentle green hills and bucolic apple orchards (it is sometimes referred to as the ‘Orchard County’) stretching out for miles and miles County Armagh is a beautiful region and one that has found itself at the heart of Ireland’s long and sometimes troubled history for centuries.

Armagh started out in the 4th century AD as the kingdom of the Ulaid before being invaded and ruled by the Three Collas until the 12th century. Thereafter it was divided into several baronies held by the O’Rogans, the O’Neills, the O’Larkins and the O’Garveys. It was also, of course, the seat of St. Patrick and site of the church that St. Patrick built in 445. To this day there is a Church of Ireland Cathedral on that same site and a Roman Catholic Cathedral on the neighboring hill.

In more recent history, the South of Armagh was, at one point, one of the most militarized areas in all of western Europe because of the Troubles. Known as ‘bandit country’ because it was an IRA stronghold it is still an area of strong nationalism to this day. It is also, thankfully, an area on the mend and now the Troubles are in the past tourists are flocking back to enjoy the stunning landscapes and rural atmosphere of County Armagh. From the gentle craggy southern hills and Carrigatuke, Lislea and Camlough Mountains to the drumlin country of the center and the abundant apple orchards and strawberry fields in the north and from Navan Fort to Slieve Gullion, Gosford Castle to the flats of Lough Neagh, these days it is very much a place to come and unwind. Further out there are also the uninhabited (and brilliantly named) islands of Coney Island, Coney Island Flat, Shallow Flat, Phil Roe’s Flat, Derrywarragh Island and Croaghan Flat.

Finally, there is Armagh itself, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland and a beautiful city with its two magnificent cathedrals and hundreds of things to see and do; from the Palace of the Archbishop to the Palace Stables, or from the stunning public library on Abbey Street to the beguiling Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium, Armagh is a city well worth spending some time in.